Taras

Taras was a Greek city-state in Magna Graecia, now the city of Taranto in Apulia, southern Italy. It was founded in 706 BC, established by the Spartans (their only colony), and it was named for its founder Taras of Tarentum, the mythological son of Poseidon. Located on the coast of southern Italy, Taras became the most dominant and civilized city in Magna Graecia. Taras became powerful due to its exploitation of the region's fertile soil and its strong naval traditions and its population, who were a rich cultural melting pot. Led by the enlightened Archytas - a gifted statesman and inventor - who the city’s occupants were proud to note was the basis for Plato's concept of the philosopher-king. During the 4th century BC, the Tarantians sought control over the Italian Peninsula and the increased prosperity of its people, but, surprisingly enough, the major impediment towards achieving these goals was Syracuse, another Greek city-state on the island of Sicily. The second obstacle was the Samnites, a confederation of Italian tribes living in the mountains of central Italy. The Romans and Etruscans were no doubt also bothersome neighbours, but they were not yet powerful enough to seriously threaten the balance of power in the region. In 272 BC, Rome conquered Taras after it supported Pyrrhus of Epirus during his invasions of Italy, and the city was renamed to Tarentum.